§ Mr. Arthur Lewisasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will give, for the latest and most convenient stated date, the number of rules, regulations, directives and laws of the European Economic Community which Great Britain will have to implement on entry into the European Economic Community; and how many of these are readily available in agreed English translations for Members of Parliament and the general public.
§ Mr. RipponThe pre-accession series of English texts of the secondary legislation of the European Communities, showing how the secondary legislation as it stood on 10th November, 1971, would apply to the United Kingdom on enlargement of the Communities, was published by Her Majesty's Stationery Office on 13th January this year. The number of instruments in this series is approximately 1,500.
Her Majesty's Stationery Office will shortly publish, under arrangements providing for the publication of Community secondary legislation made during the interim period prior to accession, the first group of further pre-accession English texts of Community instruments made since 10th November, 1971.
§ Mr. Arthur Lewisasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs to what extent, on Great Britain's entry into the European Economic Community, he now estimates a rise or fall in the number of staff employed in his Department; how many will be moved to and stationed in countries of the enlarged Community; and to what extent he estimates a reduction or increase in office accommodation needed in Great Britain.
§ Mr. GodberI do not anticipate any significant change in the overall size of the Diplomatic Service as a result of Britain's accession to the European Communities. About 30 additional staff will be required for the strengthening of our delegation in Brussels and of our embassies in some other European capitals. This small increase is expected to be offset by other staffing changes already in prospect which are unconnected with European developments. There will be no change in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office's 123W requirement for office accommodation in London.